Wound infections in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. Ultraviolet light for the control of airborne bacteria
M. Moggio, J. L. Goldner, D. E. McCollum and S. F. Beissinger
Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (1,537 A) during total hip arthroplasty will
effectively reduce risk of airborne bacterial contamination of the
operative field. An air sampling study at the operative site compared 28
total hip arthroplasties with UV lights on and 19 operations with UV lights
off. The use of UV irradiation significantly reduced the average number of
airborne bacteria over the operative site, although the results indicate
that the number of airborne bacteria collected at the operative site in
each conventional operating room without UV irradiation was quite low. Data
confirmed the fact that airborne bacteria are a reflection of operating
room personnel and their activities. With UV light, the rate of infection
from possible airborne sources was 0.15% for 1,322 total hip patients.
Thus, emphasis is now placed on those causes of infection that are not
airborne.
